Danny’s delight at lifting top title

Danny’s delight at lifting top title

5 May 2021

BALLYNOE native Danny McMenamin capped off a defining season in his young career when he was recently presented with the Conditional Champion Jockey award at Sandown Park racecourse.

The up-and-coming jump jockey wrote his name into the history books alongside fellow countrymen Sir AP McCoy and Brian Hughes as a winner of the illustrious prize.

Danny (20) reflected on his crowning moment after he produced an extremely impressive 45 wins from 314 rides to finish in first place, 12 wins ahead of his nearest competition.

“It’s fantastic, it really is hard to explain just how happy I am that I earned this award,” he said.

“Every young lad setting up wants to be the Champion Conditional Jockey, it’s every young mans dream. It didn’t sink in until I was driving away from the ceremony and it was a great feeling.”

The jump jockey star first began his interest in horses after watching the races at Downpatrick Racecourse with his family when he was just eight years old. Since then, he carried on visiting the local racetrack with friends and soon caught the racing bug.

“I went to a few point-to-pointers with the McCartan family who we know well. It wasn’t long after that I got on the saddle for the first time and I got going from there,” said Danny.

The golden boy started off with Downpatrick trainer Brian Hamilton before working with group one winning flat trainer Ger Lyons in Kildare. 

On the advice of former Grand National winner Tony Dobbin, Danny then made his big move across the water to Penrith in Cumbria to work under the highly respected trainer Nicky Richards at his famous Greystoke stables.

“I was only 17 when I turned professional and made the move to England. I was very nervous, but Nicky made me feel really welcomed and I settled in quickly,” he recalled.

“It was tough at the beginning to be fair but Nicky is very easy to get on with and he knew it was going to be difficult for me. He made things very straight forward and it didn’t take long for me to get the hang of things.”

The rider credits the first big moment of his blossoming career to when he rode the 20/1 shot Nietzsche, trained by Brian Ellison, to first place in the grade three Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham when he was just 18 in November 2018.

“It was something that was unexpected and maybe came a bit out of the blue. It really helped my career and put me on the radar to a lot of people”.

Danny has ridden a number of horses on his path to success but does share a special bond with one in particular.

“Nuts Well is my favourite horse. We have competed a lot together and I’ve developed my skills with him a lot, we have picked up six or seven wins this season together” he said.

“That horse has helped me get to the grade one stage of racing, especially after our massive grade two win”.

That grade two success was when Danny and Nuts Well secured first place in the valuable Old Roan at Aintree. Nuts Well was picked for an outsider in the race at 18/1, but the talented rider once again showed he was worth his salt as he galloped to glory.

This gave Northumberland trainer Ann Hamilton her biggest success to date as they claimed the £36,000 prize pot.

Despite his interest and success in racing, Danny was the first in his family to become heavily involved in the sport.

“I come from a sporting background in my family, my two brothers played Gaelic football and soccer growing 

up, but I was the one who took it upon myself to get into the horses,” he said.

“Of course my family supported me and helped me achieve were I am today, but I do not come from a racing background”.

Danny’s parents, Brenda and Denis, were delighted as their son received recognition for an outstanding season and hope that this is just the beginning for the promising young talent.

“We are so proud of him, he has done all of this off his own back,” said Brenda.

“He has worked extremely hard to get to this point and I am so glad he is living his dream.

“Even though I can’t watch his big hurdle races until the final straight as I always have a mother’s worry,” she added.

Danny spent a brief time back with family in Downpatrick but is getting back to business as usual in England.

“I just plan on keeping my head down and hope to bring the momentum from this season into the next one,” he said.

“Everything wouldn’t be possible without the help from all of the team at the stables and my family’s support. I want to kick on now and be the best I can be”.